Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 274, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 November 1916 — "Labor Famine” Exists Only Where Long Hours at Low Wages Are Demanded [ARTICLE]

"Labor Famine” Exists Only Where Long Hours at Low Wages Are Demanded

By FRANK MORRISON

Secretary of the American Federation of Labor

■\ tendency- is-Ure-*aecept?meeof organized labor’s position on immigration restriction. During the past year the acid test of experience has verified the claim of trade unions that American institutions cannot assimilate nor American living standards resist the flood tides of induced immigration that has been the policy of captains of industry. Information and reports received by the officers of the American Federation of Labor clearly demonstrate the face that a “labor famine” exists only where employers still demand long hours at low wages, and where they ignore the living standards set by the workers. Another element among employers who talk of the scarcity of labor do so to entice a sufficient number of idle workers to their factory gates as a menace to those femployed and who are liable to demand better conditions. These employers oppose restriction of immigration because restriction will defeat their policy of having two or more men for every job. Another tendency is the growing opposition to labor injunctions, which class labor power as property. The congress of the United States has voiced this opposition in amendments to the anti-trust laws. Judicial interpretations of the term “property” in the fourteenth amendment to the federal Constitution are losing their fore*. AVhat was originally intended to end slavery has heed used to thwart the enactment of social legislation, but courts have failed to check the swelling tide, of democracy.